West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-09-23
MANIA or rHe MALAY.
Tho Strange and Terrible Hysterical At
lection Called Running Amuck."

Auo Stfauko ana 1err1Dto nysteElc3k Az
fection Called Running Amuck."
Running amuck" is a phrase derived
from tho Malay word 'samol" ("kiIl.
ing') and constitutes q well marked
hysterical affection of certain races IN
habiting oriental countries. Ii is rarelyk
If ever, manifested among the oaiet toms
pered Hindoos, and but seldom anon
the Indian Mussulmans, which. when1
ever it does occur in Hindcs;an, th0
malady may generally be traced to IL
abuse of opium or the extract of hemH
called bhang, ganja or charras. In
Hindoo tobacconist sells special confse@
ton made of bhang, opium, daturau
cloves, mastic, cinnamon and carda-
NUNS, which is mixed with milk and
sugar and eaten as n sweetmeat. This
diabolical cake-known as majum-wiu
drive man mad about ~ soon as any
thing. With the Malays, however, who
have given O name to the terrible mental
alteration Of which we speak, and who
are by far the most addicted to it Of all
eastern people, there is seldom any
such explanation of the outbreak.
Suddenly, without rhyme or reason,
q man will spring up from his shop
board or his couch, draw his kris-the
wave bladed dagger which they all carry
and, with q scream of ssAmok! Amokr'
strike its point into the heart of the near.
est wayfarer and dart down the crowded
bazar like the lunatic which he is, stab.
bing and cutting on all sides. "AmokI
Amok!' issues from hundred mouths,
and everybody hurries for place Of ret
uge, fleeing in all directions, except those
bolder spirits who snatch up weapons oe
defense and Join the armed throng which
purrues tho desperate. The path Of tho
chase is soon strewn with bodies of men,
women and children, dead or bleeding TO
death, until some lucky shot or daring
thrust disables the murderer, who n
pierced with dozen blades as soon as he
falls to the ground. Occasionally 10
turns out that the "amoker" has received
some personal affront or injury or was
hopelessly in debt or disappointed in love,
but more commonly there is nothing
whatever to account for tho wild fury OK
his proceedings, and the street sweepers
drag his carcass as carelessly away as II
o leopard had been slain in the public
streets. So ordinary, indeed, is the oc-
currence that in many towns and citiB
where there lives large Malay popul:s-
ton, an instrument is kept in readiness 10
every police station called the "amokaS
catcher" II is something like an col
spear with very long handle, and 70
contrived that two elastic pointed spikes
close around the mad mans neck, and
secure him helplessly when the iron
prongs are pushed against the napc froin
behind.
Neither rank nor wealth keeps Malay
from this sudden access of homicidL
mania if he has the prcdisposition or has
been greatly excited. There was an iil-
stance at Salatiga, in the island Of JAVA
where the regent was celebrating tls
marriage of two of his daughters, ant
everybody was in festive and joyors
mood. Just, however, at the gaycst mt.
ment OF the ceremonies the regents
brother-in.law, high official, camo rusli-
ing through the procession, stabbiny
everybody he could get at with his jcwelel
kris. The regent himself, coming up 10
inquire into the uproar, was killed by .
single thrust, and it was the brother cc
the prince who ran the "moker" through
the back with spear and brought hin,
down, yet not before he had slaughtered
nine of the palace people and wounde.i
six others moro or less severely.
1t might be supposed that race sui
iect to such ferocious fits would be nat.
urally excitable and nervous in manner;
but the contrary is the case. The Mala.''
is of all men the most quiet, dignified ant
slow of speech and action in his ordinary
life. He seldom speaks loudly or quickly.
has the most courteous and even gentl,
demeanor and quarrels very rarely with
his fellows. Yet be is coldly and silentlv
cruel; has no regard for human life AMI
derives from the Mohammedan faitl.
which he processes, its bitterest and moe5
relentless dogmas. Once started on th'
"death run" by insult, despair or SONS
brain trouble. his only thought IL to ''kill
and kill and kill, 2" and in the fierce OK
ultation of his insanity he does not feel
the blow which lets out bis burning blool
md puts stop to his dreadful career
London Telegraph.